Old Qinâs eyes widened as he exclaimed, "Impressive."
Third Uncle took a walkie-talkie out of his backpack, tuned it to a special channel, then squatted down from the wall.
"Good study. Calling, calling. This is Li Hongqian from Big Camphor Tree Base, are there any brothers and sisters in Xin City, please respond if you receive this."
As Third Uncle spoke, he also used the code phrase "good study."
Many people heard it.
After Third Uncle finished speaking, his face turned a bit exasperated. He didnât understand why Li Yu would use that as the code.
...
Not more than 200 meters away from Third Uncle, atop a building, there was Zhuzi, who took turns being stationed in Xin City this week, a member of the team that always followed He Chao to gather resources and scout for information outside.
Zhuzi, not only he but also the other two people beside him, heard the voice from the walkie-talkie.
The few of them confirmed it; it was indeed Third Uncleâs voice, and the passphrase was correct.
...
Across the building diagonally from Third Uncle, on the second floor, a window. The window locked, the curtains drawn, and the white paint on the wall outside peeling away to reveal the red bricks underneath. This was a good spot; the Xinhua Bookstore below was closed.
It had an iron fence and an aluminum lift gate. But the Xinhua Bookstore had a back door, small and obscure, tucked around a corner and currently bolted from the inside.
Inside, seven or eight people were hunkered down, with Zuo Ruxue in charge, staring at the walkie-talkie, gradually turning up the volume to hear the message clearly.
She said to several sisters around her, "Director Liâs Second Uncle, Li Hongqian, is asking if there is anyone in Xin City. Letâs go find them."
One of the sisters said, "Sister Zuo, itâs almost dark, if we go out, could it be...?"
Zuo Ruxue glared and scolded:
"We are now extra staff of Big Camphor Tree, could you have survived that winter if it wasnât for Director Li integrating us into the extra staff last time?
And besides, where do we hide every time thereâs a prolonged heavy rain? Xiao Feng, I donât want to hear you say such things again.
Director Li has treated us well, plus, having worked with Director Li for so long, donât we understand what kind of person he is and what the situation at Big Camphor Tree Base is?
Working with Big Camphor Tree for so long, it wasnât easy for us to report important information last time, which allowed us to be counted as extra staff and to receive rations every month.
..."
Hearing what Zuo Ruxue said, the other sisters all agreed. The sister who spoke, flushed as she listened to Zuo Ruxue, hastily added, "Sister Zuo, I didnât mean that."
Zuo Ruxue let out a sigh and said, "I know youâre worried about danger, but if we donât take any risks, we wonât have any opportunities.
Li Hongqian holds a high position in Big Camphor Tree Base, and not to mention, as extra staff, we should respond. Moreover, itâs also an opportunity now."
Zuo Ruxue opened a small crack in the window and watched Xiao Jun and others driving by slowly, shouting contents through a loudspeaker.
She said to the others:
"These people, I donât know what their intentions are, but thatâs information. If we can report to Li Hongqian earlier or find them first, weâll make a deeper impression in their hearts, and maybe weâll be able to join Big Camphor Tree Base and live there sooner."
As she said this, a longing appeared in the eyes of the seven or eight sisters around her.
...
In the countryside of Xin City, Xiao Hu, who was about to prepare food, heard the voice from the walkie-talkie and immediately said to the twenty or so brothers around him, "Actiontime! Get ready."
Then he spoke into the walkie-talkie:
"Captain Li, hello, I am Xiao Hu from Big Camphor Tree extra staff Group 2. Iâm currently in the outskirts of Xin City. Where are you, do you need us to come over?"
Third Uncle had just repeated the message three times.
Then the walkie-talkie burst into life.
First, it was Xiao Huâs voice.
Next, Zhuzi responded:
"I love studying. Third Uncle, I am Outer City personnel Zhuzi, currently on top of the Agricultural Bank. Where are you? Weâll come over."
Then it was Zuo Ruxue, who after hearing the conversations from the other two teams, thought for a moment and said, "Captain Li, I am from extra staff Group 3.
I have something to report to you. There is a troop of about 30 people in military garb near City Gate Primary School, using loudspeakers to find people from Big Camphor Tree Base.
Also, they said they knew Li Yu, Director Li. What should we do now?"
...
Old Qin was dumbfounded; he had thought Xin City was pretty desolate, but didnât expect Captain Liâs call to suddenly draw out so many people.
And it seemed there were two teams nearby.
Third Uncle, hearing Zuo Ruxueâs voice, pictured a woman around 30 in his mind; he had seen her a few times but had never spoken to her.
Listening to Zuo Ruxue, realizing she could see Xiao Junâs group, they must be very close.
So he said, "Zuo Ruxue, where are you now?"
Zuo Ruxue, without any hesitation, said, "Red Flag Avenue, second floor of Xinhua Bookstore."
Third Uncle was startled; they were currently on Red Flag Avenue, and he remembered Xinhua Bookstore... was right across the street, wasnât it?
Third Uncle poked his head out from the surrounding wall and saw the sign for Xinhua Bookstore diagonally across â "Shop" signage had fallen off.
His gaze moved upward, looking at the tightly shut windows on the second floor of Xinhua Bookstore, and said casually, "Open the windows."
Zuo Ruxue had some guesses, so she quietly opened a small crack in the window.
Indeed!
Third Uncle saw a crack being opened on the second-floor window.
"Stop looking, weâre on the rooftop of the clothing store to your upper left," Third Uncle said, seeing Zuo Ruxue glancing around looking for him.
Zuo Ruxue looked up to the left, shocked.
So close!!!
Third Uncle thought for a moment and said:
"Alright, Xiao Hu, youâre in the outskirts. Report to Big Camphor Tree Base immediately regarding the information Zuo Ruxue just mentioned. Send someone, tell them itâs Xiao Junâs people, have Li Hongda dispatch some people. Tell them Iâm here too."
"Zhuzi, come over and meet with me now."
"Zuo Ruxue, stay there for now, donât get discovered by that group. Iâll call you later."
...
After Third Uncle made arrangements.
All three parties immediately replied:
"Okay."
"Okay."
"Okay."
...